NYC limits ICEs reach into schools

By Make the Road New York Staff

Good news!

On March 21st, 2017 the Department of Education, Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Mark-Viverito announced that ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) will not be allowed into New York City public schools unless absolutely required by law.

The City will offer immigrant right workshops to students and their families in certain schools across the city and will continue to keep students’ immigration status confidential. Students and parents will receive more information from their schools this week.

The recent nation-wide ramp-up in immigration enforcement has left many immigrant parents scared to carry out daily tasks like taking their children to school.

All children, regardless of immigration status, have the right to an education, and now families in NYC can feel even more comfortable entering school buildings and interacting with school staff.

Rocío Espada, member of Make the Road New York and Brooklyn resident, explained:

“Our City’s schools must be a safe space for all children to learn, and, for immigrant parents like me, this new guidance from the Department of Education is a strong step. In my community, most of the students are immigrants and Latinos, and no one should be separated from their families. I’m very happy that the City has created a clear and specific process for how to respond if ICE appears at our schools. I applaud the Mayor, the Department of Education, and Speaker Mark-Viverito for today’s announcement .”

In this terrible moment for our nation, New York City is taking steps in the right direction.

Our members will continue to resist the national crack-down on immigrants and organize to ensure that all members of our communities are safe from criminalization and inhumane law enforcement.